Virginia

Bedford

79,462

2020 population

1790

first census record

census records

About Bedford

Bedford, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 10,531. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 79,462.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Hunter's Retreat – Liberty, and 35 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	79,462
2010	68,676
2000	60,371
1990	51,729
1980	40,918
1970	32,739
1960	31,028
1950	29,627
1940	29,687
1930	29,091
1920	30,669
1910	29,549
1900	30,356
1890	31,213
1880	31,205
1870	25,327
1860	25,068
1850	24,080
1840	20,203
1830	20,246
1820	19,305
1810	16,148
1800	14,125
1790	10,531

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bedford

Military engagements that took place in Bedford, Virginia.

Hunter's Retreat – Liberty

1864

Historic places in Bedford

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bedford, Virginia.

Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church

Ballard, John D., House

Bedford (Independent City)

Bedford Historic Meetinghouse

Bedford (Independent City)

Bedford (Independent City)

Hope Dawn

Lynchburg

Cifax Rural Historic District

Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church

Moneta

Bedford Historic District

Bedford (Independent City)

Locust Level

Montvale

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Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bedford County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Bedford County, Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Frequently asked about Bedford

When does Bedford first appear in the US census?

Bedford, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 10,531.

What is the population of Bedford?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Bedford had a recorded population of 79,462.

Were any battles fought in Bedford?

1 documented military engagement took place in Bedford, including Hunter's Retreat – Liberty.

How many historic places are in Bedford?

35 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bedford, Virginia.

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